About this Donor Organizing - Program Associate role at North Star Fund
North Star Fund is hiring a Donor Organizing Program Associate. We’re seeking a highly-organized person committed to community building across class and race.
The Donor Organizing Program Associate will help donors deepen their political education, strengthen their giving practices and stay connected to grassroots movements in New York. The Program Associate supports the design and coordination of programming that ensures that our donor community has meaningful, continuous opportunities to learn, take action and grow in relationship with North Star Fund.
This team member will grow and nurture North Star Fund’s network of people committed to transformative action through giving. This role requires collaboration across our internal teams. This is not a fundraising position. It’s a role focused on supporting dynamic programming for North Star Fund’s highly-engaged donor community.
Programming will support donors in developing giving practices that are
- values-driven
- aligned with the priorities and needs of grassroots movements
North Star Fund is a social justice fund. We support grassroots organizing led by communities of color building power in New York City and the Hudson Valley. We organize people across race and class to give in support of social justice movements. We also offer year-round programming to help organizers build and sustain their work.
North Star Fund was founded over 45 years ago by a group of New Yorkers who wanted to disrupt traditional philanthropic practices. They built the fund to be a collective giving community where donors support social justice movements. And they built it to support a different way to practice philanthropy. This means shifting power and resources to community organizers who make grantmaking decisions. North Star Fund began with a small handful of donors. Since then, thousands of donors have moved many millions through our grant programs.
This position is full-time. The Program Associate will report to the Donor Organizing Director and will regularly partner with other staff.
Primary Responsibilities
- Work in close coordination with North Star Fund’s Development and Grantmaking teams to create public programming. This programming will reflect the strategic priorities of these teams while amplifying our mission.
- Support the program development process for workshops aligned with North Star Fund’s mission. Workshops will support donors with how to be a stronger ally through one’s giving.
- Coordinate logistics for workshops, trainings and webinars. Communicate with participants, prepare documents, arrange food, take notes, and set up Zoom links.
- Share feedback and insights from donors and program participants with relevant teams. This will help improve and inform future programing and support provision.
- Track and manage data pertaining to program participants. Maintain and improve our relevant data systems.
- Draft clear, engaging content about North Star Fund’s donor education and training programs. This content will be used for newsletters and website updates.
- Keep current participants and alumni informed and connected to new engagement opportunities. The Program Associate will use program listservs for communication.
- Build relationships with North Star Fund’s donor community. The Program Associate will help to grow the community. They will also help sustain the support and engagement of long-term supporters.
Required Skills
- Deep social justice values and a demonstrated commitment to the practice of racial justice, inclusion, and community-driven change
- Fluency with related concepts around intersectionality, structural, institutional, and internalized racism
- Knowledge of and commitment to grassroots organizing led by communities of color
- Resilience, flexibility, humility, self-awareness, and a sense of humor
- Excellent collaboration and communication skills
- Excellent writing, reading comprehension and analytical skills
- Highly organized project manager, able to coordinate multiple moving parts, manage timelines and maintain accurate data systems
- Ability to collaborate across teams to implement cohesive donor programming
- Adaptability and problem solving skills with the ability to adjust plans based on donor needs, team priorities, or shifting movement conditions
- Ability to quickly connect, build trust and develop authentic relationships with people from diverse backgrounds
- Commitment to engage in ongoing political education and skill development
- Proficiency with standard office software (such as Word, Excel or Google Worksuite), video conferencing platforms (Zoom or Meet), and internal communications platforms (Slack, Microsoft Teams)
- Familiarity with presentation software (such as PowerPoint, Canva or Google Slides)
- Familiarity with data management systems such as Airtable or Salesforce
Desired Skills
- Experience managing volunteers
- Community organizing or movement building experience
- Experience with organizing and handling administrative tasks/multitasking, project planning and execution
- Familiarity with grassroots fundraising, individual giving and/or family philanthropy
- Comfort facilitating groups, designing agendas and supporting collective learning
Physical Requirements
Must be able to work at a computer screen for several hours a day. Must be able to attend events, including some travel in the region and beyond, and meet with donors in person and/or via teleconferencing. Occasional evening and weekend events as needed. Light lifting for in-person events may be required. Accommodations will be made as necessary for the safety and well-being of all employees.
Compensation
The salary for this position is $73,337 depending on experience and in accordance with North Star Fund’s compensation structure. North Star Fund offers generous benefits. Benefits include:
- 100% premium paid for medical, dental, and vision insurance
- monthly transportation, cell phone and internet allowance
- flex-time, vacation and holidays
North Star Fund operates within a 32-hour full-time work week.
Additional Information
North Star Fund uses a 32-hour work week for full-time employees. Our work days run Monday through Thursday with periodic evening and weekend work required at times. This position will report to the Donor Organizing Director and will regularly partner with other staff. North Star Fund currently uses a hybrid work model: staff work from home and from our office located in midtown Manhattan. The Program Associate is expected to be available for meetings and events in the communities we serve.
Residency Requirement
All staff are required to periodically attend in-person meetings and events in NYC and the Hudson Valley. Applicants must live in the Hudson Valley or New York City or be within a one-hour commute to these areas.
How to Apply
Please share a resume and a cover letter that shares your interest in the role. More information and application instructions can be found at www.northstarfund.org/jobs. We appreciate all submissions, but please be advised that our capacity allows us to only respond to those best qualified for the position.
Position will remain open until filled but first review of applications will be October 12, 2026.
North Star Fund is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate against applicants based on race, religion, color, disability, medical condition, legally protected genetic information, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity or expression, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions), age, veteran status or other legally protected characteristics.
North Star Fund is firmly committed to equity and diversity. We’re committed to the recruitment and retention of people from backgrounds traditionally excluded from philanthropy. We strongly encourage Black, Indigenous and people of color, women, LGBTQ people, elders and differently-abled candidates to apply.
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